February 20, Mazeikiai. AB Mazeikiu Nafta has started up the refurbished vacuum distillation tower, which will significantly increase the production efficiency. Having commenced on the 14th of February the commissioning and start-up activities on the refurbished vacuum distillation tower, today its operating efficiency has significantly improved.
The tower was built in 1982 to supply feedstock for bitumen production. A decade later, when the FCC Complex was built, this tower was taken out of service and preserved. As part of the recovery plan, the old tower has been refurbished and prepared for uninterrupted production of vacuum gas oil.
The refurbished tower is used for processing crude unit residue. Vacuum gas oil is recovered from crude unit residue in the refurbished vacuum tower.
“With commissioning and start-up of this refurbished vacuum distillation tower we completed the first stage of our recovery plan. With this refurbished vacuum tower in service our refinery capacity achieves “efficient” operations at one half of the volumes refined in the unit damaged by the fire. The refurbished tower substantially optimizes our production efficiency,”—told Mr. Paul Nelson English, General Director of AB Mazeikiu Nafta.
The refurbished tower is capable of refining approx. 50 per cent of the crude unit residue volumes refined in the unit damaged by the fire in October 2006.
“It is obvious that the start-up of the tower will have a significant impact on the performance results of the entire Refinery,”—told P. N. English,—“however, at this stage of optimization, it is too early for a determination of the benefit.”
“On the Company’s behalf, I would like to thank all employees and contractors for their hard work during the refurbishment. I appreciate the efforts enabling achievement of the goals set.”—told P. N. English. A team of 500 professionals refurbished the tower within three months, a monumental accomplishment.
A.Tirlikas photos:
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